Main menu

Traveling is one of the great ways we’ve learned to treat ourselves. Still, even though we look forward to the getting away, it’s the whole “knowing where I’ll stay” part that really can be a pain, and this of course means making hotel reservations.

Booking a hotel room is one of the hardest things in the world to do simply because if you’re not used to doing it, you’re really crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. Games of chance are fun once in a while but not when it comes to where you’ll be spending your time away from home. The crazy thing is that there are a number of folks out there who might find it weird that making hotel reservations would be such an arduous task.

After all, when it comes right down to it, technology has made it to where you can book your getaway lodging with apps on your phone. The customer, it seems, has the upper-hand on the whole process, right? Well, if you’re not a regular traveler, you’re basing your choice of hotel on reviews. You can exhaust your choices of review websites, with each one giving you something a little different. Moreover, take the time to look over reviews sometime, and you might find some of the most trivial reasons for poor reviews.

If you’re trying to book a hotel room, either for business or leisure, what can you do? Before becoming too forlorn, here are five questions you should answer prior to booking your next hotel room:

What is the purpose of this stay? Business or leisure seem to be the reason for most stays at a hotel, but the number of reasons can vary per visitor. Knowing the reason can help you figure out what you need out of your room.

Are you traveling with your family or not? Booking the right room in terms of beds, facilities, and services means saving money.

Do you require certain amenities? You can call the shots, and if there are certain amenities (e.g., pool, gym, etc.) you require, find the place that has you covered.

Does your stay require many extras? If you’re a barebones kind of traveler that doesn’t need much, you may find some great savings on basic hotel rooms.

Is proximity to a bigger metropolitan area a deal-breaker? The answer to this question depends on whether you need to travel into said big-city area. Sometimes being away from the action can be nice, but then again, your entire trip may be based on meetings in the heart of the city.

Being able to book a trip can be one of the most rewarding things you can do simply because you are partially being swept away by all of the great things that await you at your destination. Then again, if you are having to book your travel while also trying to land a last minute hotel deal, you are stressing out big-time. Anytime you decide to leave travel plans as the final part of your trip planning, you tend to be on the wrong end of things.

Yet, there is an entire cottage industry built around the idea that traveling in style and staying in some of the finest hotels around the world can all be done in a moment’s notice. Though this article seeks to identify the number one secret to making this happen, the truth is that there is a lot more involvement that has to take place in order for you to get the deal your hotel booking needs.

It’s important to know that any deal on a hotel room at the last minute won’t just jump into your lap. There is a careful dance between procrastination and waiting for the right time to act. Most part-time travelers will never really be able to grasp this skill. Those that do, however, know that there is a high level of proactive searching that has to take place to find a good deal on a hotel booking at “zero hour”. So, if you’re ready to put in some serious work searching for deals, you’re well on your way to making the savings happen.

Finding these great deals also involves becoming very tech-savvy. This should come as no real surprise to anyone, but nearly two decades into the 21st century, most everyone has become pretty good at navigating a computer or mobile device. These skills, even on the most basic level, will come in handy because if you can use email or operate a phone app, you can now have alerts, dings, notifications, and messages sent directly to you about available deals on hotel booking deals, especially when there is no time to spare.

Perhaps the best advice you can have regarding your mission to get maximum savings booking a hotel room when you’re up against the clock is by being very flexible with your accommodation requirements. If you aren’t picky about which hotel you want to stay in, your app and email work for good deals will be able to provide more options for you. Also, you may find that a bundling travel package may make prices really great. It may seem like its own separate travel tip, but a travel package can be the flexible traveler’s best friend.

If you are familiar with Barbados or have visited the country before, there is a good chance that you are familiar with the beautiful Sandy Lane area. This area is named after the prestigious hotel that is located there, though it is really I the parish of St. James. The nearby areas are Paynes Bay, Fitts Village, Batts Rock Bay, Holetown, Folkestone Marine Park, and Alleynes Bay, with all of these areas found in the West Coast of the country. If you are unfamiliar with this area and plan to take a trip to Barbados, this is an excellent area to consider.

The original resort, Sandy Lane, has been in business for over fifty years. It is one of the finest resorts in the Caribbean and is known for housing celebrities and even royalty. This resort is located directly on the beach and has a list of amenities of its own. However, it is important to note that many of the visitors to the area pass up on staying here and opt for the seclusion of the many private villas you can also find in the area.

Though the beach is named for the resort, there are other housing options available in the area as well. Also, the beach itself, like all beaches in Barbados, is completely public. There are often beach chair vendors available there that you can rent and use during your stay. You can usually rent umbrellas as well to protect you from the tropical heat to enjoy your beach day.

The beach itself is large enough to house several visitors without feeling too crowded. You will fall in love with this stretch of gorgeous, well maintained, golden sand. Of course, if you have ever been to the area, you know that the Caribbean Sea is one of the most crystal, beautiful waters you can swim in. Plus, it is sheltered in a small bay which gives the area even less waves and is almost always calm for a relaxing swimming area.

These calm waters make the area an excellent place to enjoy a variety of watersports in addition to the obvious swimming. It is a great place to see the tropical fish and other sea creatures through snorkeling. Also, many love to hire out jet skis or other sailing crafts and get deeper in the water for some more adventurous fun. Of course, you can always just enjoy a relaxing day in the sand and keep an out for any of your favorite actors, singers, sports players, etc. who may be passing by during the busy season.

Another important feature to note is that between July and October, you can often see Hawksbill turtles nesting on this beautiful Barbados beach. Of course, you should avoid any nests you see for the safety of the turtles, but there are few things better than watching them make their journey to sea. Also, some have been lucky enough to swim alongside some of the larger, friendly adult turtles. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and a great teaching experience for children of all ages.

Obviously, if you are staying in the area, you will want to do more than stay at the beach all day. Though there are not a lot of restaurants in the smaller Sandy Lane area, there are several in the nearby Holetown area. You can find more casual beach bars that are great for a quick lunch or a fun evening out, but you can also find higher end restaurants that are a great date night for honeymooners. Plus, you will find many stores in the area that are known for their duty-free shopping.